Item B: Capital Project Funding for Washington-Jefferson Skatepark

Home Browse Search

ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Capital Project Funding for Washington-Jefferson Skatepark Meeting Date: May 23, 2012 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Neil Bjӧrklund www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-4909 ISSUE STATEMENT This item is in response to a council poll in support of a work session to discuss the question “should the City Council direct Parks and Open Space to allocate approximately $600,000 from the 2006 Parks Bond toward Washington-Jefferson Skatepark construction and related park improvement costs?” BACKGROUND General The Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Project and Priority Plan, adopted by the City Council in 2006, includes a City Center Skatepark as a Priority 1 project to be built in Washington-Jefferson Park. The City has provided $292,000 in Parks systems development charges (SDC) Funds toward the design and development of the skatepark. The 2008-2013 Capital Improvement Plan estimated the construction cost at $400,000, with the City providing $292,000 and private fundraising providing the remaining $108,000. A donation and partnership agreement was signed by Parks and Open Space Division (POS) and Skaters for Eugene Skateparks (SES) in early 2009. In the agreement, SES committed to raising $200,000 towards the construction of the skatepark by the end of 2009. Following signing of the agreement, the Eugene Rotary also agreed to partner with SES to assist with private fundraising. The City’s funding paid for the design process for the skatepark, which began in spring 2008 and was completed in spring 2010. During the design process, both the scope and estimated unit costs of the project increased and the final estimated cost of construction rose to $893,000 for the entire project, which includes four phases. While the partnership agreement was not revised at that time, staff communicated to SES and the public that the City had only committed to provide the $292,000 in Parks SDC Funds. This leaves approximately $600,000 to be generated through private fundraising in order to build all four phases. SES began its fundraising campaign in early 2009. To date, SES and Eugene Rotary have raised approximately $90,000 towards construction of the skatepark. Status of Partnership Agreement Under the partnership agreement, in addition to the City’s contribution of $292,000 in Parks SDC Funds, the City’s contribution was also to include providing on-going maintenance of the new facility. At present, POS does not have adequate operations and maintenance resources to maintain a major new S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120523\S120523B.doc